Making forced marriage a crime could backfire by deterring young victims from
coming forward, it was claimed yesterday.

Some charities voiced concerns that the plans could prompt vulnerable young people to remain silent rather than see their families jailed.

But ministers said that previous civil measures to stop forced marriage had failed to tackle the scale of the problem.

David Cameron criticised those who had previously been willing to accept forced marriage as a “cultural practice” in some ethnic minority communities and warned that those responsible could expect “very, very tough” sentences.

As many as 8,000 people a year in Britain – predominantly young women from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds – are thought to be at risk of forced marriage, often by being taken abroad.

New civil orders were introduced five years ago designed to protect people at risk of being forced into a marriage but only about 10 a year.

Nevertheless Deborah Kitson, chief executive of the Ann Craft Trust, a charity working with victims of abuse, said: “Victims will not be encouraged to report with the additional pressure that by reporting their families will end up facing a prison sentence.

“In addition, people with learning disabilities very often rely on third parties to raise the issue and report on their behalf — this new criminal offence could result in deterring third party reporting of unsubstantiated concerns which may result in prison for the families that they are working with.”

Grant Howell, a family law arbitrator at Charles Russell LLP, said: “The question now though is whether making this a crime in its own right helps or hinders the situation. “There are already eleven separate criminal offences that may be committed in such a case and it is interesting that those working with victims question the helpfulness of taking this further step.

“Concentrating on providing education to those at risk and giving additional resources to those helping the victims should be the focus.”

But Mr Cameron said it was clear criminalisation was required.

“I think there should be tough punishments,” he said.

“Think what we are considering here: this is a 15-year-old girl, whipped out of school, flown to the other side of the world, introduced to the person they are going to be forced into marrying and their whole life being ruined.

“That's what we are talking about and as far as I'm concerned if you commit that sort of offence you get a very, very tough punishment."

He added: “For too long in this country we have thought it's a cultural practice and we just have to run with it.